Chrysanthemum plant named &#34;Gedi One Pra&#34;

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct Chrysanthemum plant variety characterized by a large, decorative type inflorescence, consistent flowering response to short days, blooming consistently after 49 days of short day length, free branching habit, and highly floriferous plants.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar ofChrysanthemum plant, botanically known as Dendranthema morifolium andherein after referred to by the cultivar name ‘GEDI ONE PRA.’

[0002] This new cultivar originated from hybridization of a femaleparent Chrysanthemum cultivar (unpatented in the United States) with amale parent Chrysanthemum cultivar ‘Maribelle’ (unpatented in the UnitedStates). The new cultivar was discovered by the inventor in October1996.

[0003] Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar by apical tip cuttingand meristem tissue culture was performed in Oxnard, Calif. and hasshown that the unique features of this new cultivar are stable andreproduced true to type on successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0004] The cultivar ‘GEDI ONE PRA’ has not been observed under allpossible environmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat withvariations in environment such as temperature, daylength, and lightintensity, without, however, any variance in genotype.

[0005] The following traits have been repeatedly observed and aredetermined to be the unique characteristics of ‘GEDI ONE PRA.’ Thesecharacteristics in combination distinguish ‘GEDI ONE PRA’ as a new anddistinct Chrysanthemum:

[0006] 1. Large, decorative type inflorescence;

[0007] 2. Consistent flowering response to short days, bloomingconsistently after 49 days of short day length;

[0008] 3. Free branching habit; and

[0009] 4. Highly floriferous plants.

[0010] Plants of the new cultivar are similar to plants of the femaleparent cultivar in most horticultural characteristics, however plants ofthe new cultivar differed from plants of the female parent cultivar inthe following characteristics:

[0011] 1. The new cultivar naturally blooms 2 weeks earlier;

[0012] 2. The new cultivar has larger diameter blooms; and

[0013] 3. The new cultivar has different color ray florets.

[0014] Plants of the new cultivar are similar to plants of the maleparent cultivar, ‘Maribelle,’ in most horticultural characteristics,however plants of the new cultivar differed from plants of the cultivar‘Maribelle’ in the following characteristics:

[0015] 1. The new cultivar has more ray florets;

[0016] 2. The new cultivar has a more round, uniform plant shape; and

[0017] 3. The new cultivar has different color ray florets.

[0018] The new cultivar can be compared to the Chrysanthemum cultivar‘Jenny Wren’ (disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 10,213). However plantsof the new Chrysanthemum differed from the plants of the cultivar ‘JennyWren’ in the following characteristics:

[0019] 1. The new cultivar has more ray florets;

[0020] 2. The new cultivar has a more round plant shape and greaterbranching;

[0021] 3. The new cultivar has a shorter internode length;

[0022] 4. The new cultivar has a more flexible plant form; and

[0023] 5. The new cultivar has more blooms per flowering branch.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

[0024] The photograph shows a close-up view of the blooms, buds, andleaves of ‘GEDI ONE PRA.’ The plants were grown under outdoor filedconditions.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

[0025] In the following description, color references are made to TheRoyal Horticultural Society Colour Chart except where general terms ofordinary dictionary significance are used. The following observationsand measurements describe plants grown in a commercial filed on Oxnard,Calif. in the month of September 2000. The growing conditions range from60° to 65° F. at night to 70° to 85° during the day. Measurements andnumerical values represent averages of typical flowering types.

[0026] Botanical classification: Dendranthema morifolium cultivar ‘GEDIONE PRA’

[0027] Commercial classification: Garden-type Chrysanthemum

[0028] Parentage: Hybridization of female parent Chrysanthemum cultivar(unpatented in the United States) with male parent Chrysanthemumcultivar ‘Maribelle’ (unpatented in the United States)

Propagation

[0029] Time to Rooting: 7 to 14 days at approximately 21° C.

[0030] Rooting habit: Fine, fibrous

Plant

[0031] Growth Habit: Mounding herbaceous perennial

[0032] Height: Approximately 26 cm

[0033] Growth rate: Moderate

[0034] Branching Characteristics: Free Branching

[0035] Length of Lateral Branches: Approximately 20 cm

[0036] Number of Leaves per Lateral Branch: Approximately 17

[0037] Stem Color: Near 148A

Foliage

[0038] Leaf:

[0039]Arrangement.—Alternate Single

[0040]Average Length.—Approximately 7.4 cm

[0041]Average Width.—Approximately 4.4 cm

[0042]Shape of blade.—Ovate

[0043]Apex.—Acuminate

[0044]Base.—Attenuate

[0045]Attachment.—Stalked

[0046]Margin.—Serrate

[0047]Texture of top surface.—Lightly pubescent

[0048]Texture of bottom surface.—Lightly pubescent

[0049]Color.—young foliage upper side: Near 147B young foliage underside: Near 147B mature foliage upper side: Near 147A mature foliageunder side: Near 147B venation upper side: Near 137C venation underside: Near 137C

[0050] Petiole:

[0051]Average Length.—Approximately 2.6 cm

Bloom

[0052] Inflorescence:

[0053]Flowering habit.—Induced by darkness period greater than 13.5hours, approximately 49 days of appropriate day length required toinduce and develop blooms

[0054]Inflorescenceform.—Decorative

[0055]Natural flowering season.—Approximately the first 2 weeks inSeptember

[0056]Number of inflorescences per stem.—Approximately 9

[0057]Inflorescence diameter.—Approximately 7.6 cm

[0058]Inflorescence depth.—Approximately 3 cm

[0059]Inflorescence longevity on plant.—Approximately 24-29 days

[0060]Persistence.—Persistent

[0061] Ray Florets:

[0062]Appearance.—Matte

[0063]Texture.—Smooth

[0064]Average Number perflower.—Approximately 320

[0065]Shape.—Oblanceolate

[0066]Margin.—Entire

[0067]Apex.—Obtuse

[0068]Length.—Approximately 4.2 cm

[0069]Width.—Approximately 1.5 cm

[0070]Color.—upper surface at first opening: Near 42A upper surface atmaturity: Near 42A upper surface atfading: Near 42B under surfaceatfirst opening: Near 179A under surface at maturity: Near 179A undersurface at fading: Near 179B

[0071] Disc florets:

[0072]Appearance.—Shiny

[0073]Texture.—Smooth

[0074]Average number per flower.—Approximately 20

[0075]Shape.—Cylindric

[0076]Apex.—Obtuse

[0077]Average Length.—Approximately 1 cm

[0078]Average Width.—Approximately 0.2 cm

[0079]Color.—at first opening: Near 54D at maturity: Near 1A at fading:Near 16A

[0080] Peduncle:

[0081]Length.—at terminal end (shortest): Approximately 7 cm at lateralend (longest): Approximately 12 cm

[0082]Strength.—Moderate

[0083]Color.—Near 147B

[0084]Habit.—Erect

[0085] Inflorescence bud:

[0086]Length.—Approximately 1.5 cm

[0087]Diameter.—Approximately 1.3 cm

[0088]Form.—Globular

[0089]Color.—Near 179A

[0090] Sepals:

[0091]Appearance.—Matte

[0092]Texture.—Lightly pubescent

[0093]Number.—Approximately 20 to 30

[0094]Shape.—Ovate

[0095]Margin.—Entire

[0096]Apex.—Acute

[0097]Color.—upper side: Near 147B underside: Near 147B

Reproductive Organs

[0098] Ray Florets:

[0099]Pistillate.—Number of pistils per flower: 1 Stigma shape: 2branched Stigma color: Near 7B Style Color: Near 2C Stigma length:Approximately 1 cm

[0100] Disc Florets:

[0101]Pistillate.—Number ofpistils perflower: 1 Stigma shape: CylindricStyle Length: Approximately 0.3 cm

[0102]Staminate.—Number of stamens per flower: Approximately 5 Anthershape: Tubular Anther color: Near 6A Pollen color: Near 7A

Other Characteristics

[0103] Disease Resistance: Neither resistance nor susceptibilityobserved

What is claimed is:
 1. A new and distinct variety of Chrysanthemum plantnamed ‘GEDI ONE PRA’ as herein illustrated and described.